Latest KFF Health News Stories
After Drug Makers, Insurers Could Be Next Target Of Clinton’s Attacks Over Health Costs
“People may remember that I took on the health insurance industry back in the nineties,” Hillary Clinton said at a recent event in Iowa. In other 2016 election news, a bipartisan group examines Sen. Bernie Sanders’ plan to pay for universal health care and reports that it falls far short of estimates and The Washington Post’s Fact Checker calls out Sen. Ted Cruz’s premium claims.
Obama Will Ask For More Than $1 Billion To Combat Opioid Epidemic
The administration’s proposal focuses on expanding treatment for abuse and providing access to the so-called overdose antidote naloxone.
Hundreds Jam First Idaho Legislative Hearing On Medicaid Expansion
The Senate committee hears a handful of residents testify but takes no action on the Democratic bill since the governor also is expected to make a proposal soon. In New Hampshire, a House committee advances a bill that would continue that state’s expansion.
Leader Of Calif. Marketplace Faults Insurer For Blaming Health Law For Internal Problems
Peter Lee said UnitedHealth Group made mistakes but failed to acknowledge them. Also in health law news is a report on how small-business owners are dealing with provisions about insuring workers and a look at how the insurance business is changing.
‘$1B Here We Come’: Congressional Memos Expose Shkreli’s Emails About Price Hikes
Ahead of Thursday’s House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on drug costs, congressional Democrats release documents from former Turing CEO Martin Shkreli and others that reveal how the company planned to maximize profits and control public perception.
House Republicans Fall Short On Health Law Veto Override Vote
The vote was not expected to be successful, but it provided congressional Republicans more fodder for election-year messaging.
First Edition: February 3, 2016
Kaiser Health News is now producing California Healthline, with the goal of bringing you the best coverage of health policy news in California. Click here to learn more about the site and its staff. If you would like to receive the free California Healthline daily or weekly emails, you can adjust your email preferences here.
Viewpoints: Questions About Obamacare Sustainability; The Real Costs Of Repealing The Cadillac Tax
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Fla. Weighs Hospital Transparency Bill; Ky. Lawmakers Approve New Abortion Law
News outlets report on health care issues in Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California, Kansas, Washington and Illinois.
Kansas Medicaid Eligibility System Leads To Long Waits For Determination
News outlets also report on Iowa Medicaid developments such as competition among participating health care companies and more issues with the governor’s privatization plan.
DNA Testing May Prove Key To Employee Wellness Programs
Newtopia, a wellness service company that offers genetic testing to employees, has shown promising results. About 50 percent of participants remain “engaged” a year after starting the program, compared to a national average of 24 percent for wellness efforts. In other public health news, CDC tweaks its HPV vaccination recommendations; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists updates its philosophy on breastfeeding; and colleges are teaching students how to avoid unplanned pregnancies.
WHO Declares Zika A Global Health Emergency
Even though the tie between the virus and microcephaly, which causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads, is still unclear, the World Health Organization says the seriousness of the cases is a strong enough reason for the designation.
Hospital operators and administrators are also preparing for the possibility of more reductions in Medicare and Medicaid fees in the upcoming budget cycle.
Drug Executives: Price Hikes A ‘Reality’ In Competitive Marketplace
A new survey finds that the costs of drugs has risen across the board on a wide-range of medications, more than doubling for 60 drugs in the past year. Meanwhile, a generic version of a promising cancer drug, which costs about 30 percent less, is hitting the market.
What Will Cancer ‘Moonshot’ Cost? Obama Seeks $1 Billion That Researchers Say Is Not Enough
President Barack Obama will request an increase from Congress that would bump up total funding for a cancer initiative to $1 billion over the next two years. But biological researchers warn that money will go fast.
Also in the news, Gilead Sciences Inc. CEO John Martin will step down and be replaced by Chief Operating Officer John Milligan.
Aetna Profits Beat Expectations Despite Losses From ACA Plans
Even after posting a 38-percent surge in fourth-quarter earnings, Aetna joins the voices of other large insurers who are concerned about the sustainability of the health law plans.
Ryan, Obama To Meet As House Prepares For Vote On Overriding Veto On Health Law Repeal
It will be the first one-on-one meeting between the president and the Wisconsin Republican since he became speaker of the House. Also in health law news, a look at efforts in New York and Minnesota to offer more affordable policies to low-income residents, Minnesota reports its enrollment numbers and an Ohio insurer drops a health system from its network.
Iowa Caucuses: Cruz Beats Trump; Clinton Claims Narrow Victory
The night signals a long road ahead for both parties.
First Edition: February 2, 2016
Editor’s Note: California Healthline is now being produced by Kaiser Health News. Our goal is to bring you the best coverage of health policy news in California, with original reporting that highlights the state’s outsized influence on the nation’s health care system. Click here to learn more about California Healthline and its staff. If you would like to receive the free California Healthline daily or weekly emails, you can adjust your email preferences here.
